Relationship between oxidative stress and diabetic osteopenia in premenopausal rats

Abstract

The relationship between lipid peroxidation, antioxidant defense and diabetic osteopenia remains unclear. This study evaluated the relationship among lipid peroxidation index, antioxidant defense parameters and bone metabolism in a premenopausal diabetic model using measures including thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances concentration (TBARS) and reduced glutathione (GSH) content in brain homogenates, histomorphometric analysis, biomechanical testing and bone mineral density (BMD). Female Wistar rats with regular estrous cycle were divided into two groups: Group 1: control rats (n = 15) and Group 2: diabetic rats (n = 15). Diabetes was induced by alloxan and confirmed by glycemia >250 mg/dL. The lipid peroxidation index, measured by TBARS concentration, showed a significant increase (p<0.05) in diabetic animals in comparison to control animals. However, the antioxidant parameter measured by GSH content, was significantly lower (p<0.05) in diabetic animals. Histomorphometric analysis showed a significant increase (p<0.05) in femoral trabecular separation together with a significant decrease (p<0.05) in trabecular thickness, and reduced trabecular bone volume in diabetic rats. Moreover, biomechanical testing and BMD values were significantly lower (p<0.05) in the diabetic group. Thus, our results demonstrated that increased lipid peroxidation and altered antioxidant defense could be related to the development of oxidative stress and diabetic osteopenia in premenopausal rats.